Prey (2017) earned generally favorable reviews for its atmospheric space-station setting, exploratory design, and flexible ways to approach problems. Its slower pace, repeated access-key tasks, and sometimes drawn-out combat are the main drawbacks cited in the available reviews.
What critics and players think of Prey
On Metacritic, Prey has a 79/100 Metascore from 68 critic reviews and an 8.0/10 user score from 1,634 ratings. Metacritic classifies both as generally favorable. These are page snapshots accessed October 8, 2026; review counts and user ratings can change. Metacritic’s Prey page.
Steam’s store result showed 91% positive from 22,261 English-language reviews when accessed October 8, 2026. Steam’s percentage and review count are also changeable. Steam store page for Prey.
Individual reviews show why the reception is positive but not unqualified. Matt Peckham rated the PlayStation 4 Pro version 3.5 out of 5 for TIME in 2017. He praised the station’s atmosphere, exploration, and resource-recycling system, while criticizing repetitive key searches and combat that could become laborious. TIME’s review by Matt Peckham.
#1 Best Overall
- Playstation 4
What kind of game is Prey?
This is the 2017 Prey, developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks—not the unrelated 2006 game with the same title. It is a single-player science-fiction action RPG and immersive sim set aboard Talos I, a space station overrun by hostile aliens. You explore the station, investigate what happened, and decide how to handle threats and obstacles. Steam’s tags include immersive sim, space, horror, exploration, and story-rich.
Why Prey’s exploration and systems stand out
A station built for investigation
Talos I is the game’s strongest draw in TIME’s review: a dense, revisitable environment where rooms, objects, and environmental details help tell the story. Exploration is more than moving between combat encounters; examining the station and looking for ways forward are central to the experience.
Rank #2
- GAMING CONSOLE
More than one way through a problem
Abilities can change how you fight and how you access parts of the station. That flexibility supports alternate approaches rather than making every obstacle a single prescribed task. If you enjoy experimenting with tools and routes, the game’s systems are a substantial part of its appeal.
Scavenging feeds into crafting
Prey lets you turn ordinary objects found around Talos I into resources for fabricating supplies. Peckham singled out this recycling system as one of the game’s smartest ideas: the clutter you collect can have a practical purpose beyond filling an inventory.
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Rank #3
- Sci-Fi Thriller: Nothing is as it seems aboard Talos I. As Morgan Yu, set out to unravel the clues you've left behind for yourself, and discover the truth about your past. What role will you play in TranStars plans, and the mysterious threat ravaging the station?
- Singular Setting: Orbiting the Moon, the Talos I space station symbolises the height of private space enterprise. Explore a lavish craft designed to reflect corporate luxury of the 1960s, and navigate interconnected, non-linear pathways built to hide countless secrets.
- Unimaginable Threat: The shadowy extra-terrestrial presence infesting Talos I is a living ecology bent on annihilating its prey. Its up to you, one of the last remaining survivors aboard the station, to end the deadly attack of these haunting predators.
- Play Your Way: Gain alien abilities to develop a distinct combination of powers and upgrade your unique skills. Craft increasingly useful items with the blueprints, gadgets and tools on board the station to overcome dangerous obstacles in your way. Survive unprecedented threats with your wits and ability to improvise.
What may frustrate players
Progress can mean another search for access
TIME’s review notes that repeated key-finding tasks can interrupt the flow of exploration. Players who dislike backtracking or searching for access items may find this structure tedious, even when the station itself remains interesting.
Combat can wear out its welcome
Peckham also found that durable enemies could turn fights into a cycle of damaging them and reloading. That makes combat a potential drag for players looking for consistently brisk action; the favorable reception does not mean every encounter or pacing choice works for everyone.
Rank #4
- PLAN AHEAD FOR THE CARD FLIP - Play six tricks, then flip your cards to use the numbers on the other side! How will you choose your decisions, planning for the mid-game swing?
- THE DICE DETERMINE YOUR BID - In other trick-taking games, it can be difficult to new players to have to bid as their first action. Prey leaves it to a roll of a dice!
- TINY SIZE, BIG STRATEGY - Trick-taking takes center stage in Prey, and manipulating your cards into perfectly laid plans (or crushing miscalculations) only takes up a small amount of space.
- THINK SHORT AND LONG TERM - As you play, don't ignore the ranks of your cards in the second half of the game. Your lower-value cards could turn into big winners in the late game!
- WHAT YOU'RE SAYING - "It's an excellent little game... So great that this game is now available to a wider audience." BGG User Dilngr4
Which platform should you choose?
Metacritic lists Prey for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One; TIME’s review was of the PlayStation 4 Pro version. The cited sources do not establish current frame rates, resolution, or other technical differences among platforms, so choose based on the hardware you already own and the exact edition and format available. Check the live listing before buying, since current stock, prices, and edition details are not established here.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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